October 22, 2018: Eastside Pizza Cafe has opened on Hawthorne Rd. with the usual pizza stand lunch fare including some interesting slices and pies. Open Monday 0 Saturday from 11- 9:00 the lunch stop serves slices and pies, burgers, and wings, plus shrimp baskets.

Japanese crepe, bowl shop opens

September 26, 2018 - A Japanese crepe and poke bowl restaurant has opened very close to the corner of SW Archer Rd. and SW 34th St. J-Petal & Poke has opened amidst a menus of Japanese Crepes, and Poke bowls. A menu consisting of of eight savory crepes and a Build Your Own Poke Bowl menu of six proteins, ten toppings, seven sauces, plus toppings, 'mix-ins' and crunch items for three different size poke bowls.

The Food & Wine website explains the word poke simply means "chunk" in Hawaiian. That said, in the past poke was typically any meat or seafood that is cut into small chunks and marinated. When referring to poke nowadays, it is generally seafood. It's unclear exactly what the origin is, though many agree that chunks of marinated seafood have been consumed for a long time by locals, and if you ask anyone from Hawaii.

PF Chang's opens in Butler Town Center

September 11, 2018 - PF Chang's has opened in Butler Town Center, 3597 SW 32nd Ct., serving rice and noodle lunch bowls, Street Fare, Dim Sum, Sushi and market side are also available. Open every day from 11- 10:00 pm with catering, happy hour, reservations, and a rewards program. According to the P.F. Chang website the. P.F. Chang's new Farm to Wok® menu highlights its wholesome, scratch-cooking approach and introducing new dishes and drinks for lunch, and dinner. Today, P.F. Chang's has 210+ U.S. restaurants, including airport locations, plus over 95 restaurants in more than 25 countries across the globe.

Kevin's Kitchen opens across from David's BBQ

After working 25 years as a chef Kevin's Kitchen Owner Kevin Sommers was ready to open his own restaurant at 2201 NE 2nd. Ave. With a 'Southern Cuisine' influence the KK menu includes all the stick-to-your-ribs southern cooking famous in N. Florida including Pork Chops and gravy, collard greens, mac and cheese, beans, black-eyed peas, fried okra, rice and skillet cake, sweet potato pie for dessert. KK's hours are Wednesday through Saturday 11 to 8, Sunday12 to 6.

Maple St. Biscuit opens second location

Maple St Biscuit Co., Tioga Town & Country Square, 140 SW 128th Street, Building 5, Suite D. The Maple St Biscuit Co. owners Jason Hurst and his wife have opened its second Gainesville location in the Town of Tioga serving breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday. With a menu serving 12 different Biscuit sandwiches Biscuits & Gravy, waffles, breakfast bowls and salads are also available.

MOD Pizza opens in The Standard

A corporate pizza stand has opened next door to Miami Subs in the Standard, 50 NW 13th St, Suite 30. With a specific list of entrees including three salads and 10 pizzas including the Lucy Sunshine with mozzarella, parmesan, artichokes, garlic, dollops of red sauce, Calexico with mozzarella, gorgonzola, chicken, jalapenos, hot buffalo sauce, red sauce, and the Pizza Salad where you create your own salad on a warm asiago pizza crust

FROM THE MOD PIZZA website:Founded in 2008 by husband and wife, Scott and Ally Svenson, in their hometown of Seattle. Inspired by their own search for quick, affordable, wholesome restaurant options for their growing family, they started to wonder if there were a better pizza way.

With 31 MOD Pizza locations nationwide in 2015 MP is open seven days a week. MOD PIZZA is open late night every darn night.

Red Rice Kitchen opens on Archer Rd.

The recently opened Red Rice Kitchen -- 3316 SW 35th Blvd. Archer Rd. Located in the Five Guys Burger & Fries plaza – touting authentic Thai, Vietnamese and Pan-Asian cuisine. With a menu featuring noodles, curry, and skewers Red Rice also serves Special fresh rolls, Asian Street food, salads, edame, wings, and wraps. Lunch is served every day starting at 11:00. Dinner is served at 5:00.

Wing Zone is the new WZ Eats, 923 West University Avenue with a new name, new look, and a boat load specials demonstrating this is not you momma's Wing Zone. After 25 years, the former Wing Zone on West University Ave. has a new look. According to their FaceBook page, "We have a new menu, and a new look but same great flavors." Specials like the $25 Mega Meal, $8 Wednesday Chicken Sandwich, and the $25 Mix & Match Deal are available for your lunch time consideration.

Ale House moves to Celebration Pointe

August 1, 2018: Gainesville's Ale House has moved west on Archer Rd. to Celebration Point with a brend new restaurant design seating 241 guests inside and on the outdoor patio. "Gainesville is one of our original restaurants so it's only appropriate that we debut our new design to some of our most loyal guests," said Ray Holden, President and COO of Miller's Ale House. a quarter mile from the original resrtaurant the new lunch stop features two bars both inside or on the open-air patio, and 60+ TV screens.

Sushi, Thai, Pizza, Bowl lunch stops open

July 22, 2018: MidiCi - THE NEAPOLITAN PIZZA COMPANY opened in Celebration Pointe, 4949 Celebration Pointe Blvd Ste T560, last weekend amid fanfare, rhythm & Blues, and crowds finding out what exactly is Neapolitan pizza. According to the MidiCi website:

Neapolitan Pizza is the way Italians invented it 300 years ago. During her summer vacation in Naples with the King, Queen Margherita was presented a pizza by a local pizzaiolo with tomato, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, and a touch of basil to represent the 3 colors of the new born Italian flag. She liked it so much that it was named in her honor. The classic Margherita was born. Over the centuries, Neapolitan Pizza has become an institution. Since 1998, its ingredients and method of preparation are protected by the Italian legislation.

The MididCi pizza crust has only four ingredients: Non-GMO Double zero Neapolitan flour, water, sea salt and yeast. The sauce contains only non-gmo crushed Italian peeled tomatoes. Serving 18 different pizzas on their light, thin, soft and chewy signature Neapolitan dough from vegetarian to the White Bianca and the classic Margherita & Prosciutto pizza. Midici also serves six different salads and a full Appetizer menu.

III Thai/Sushi bar opens on S. Main St.

IFITIS is the new Thai and Sushi Bar downtown on NE 1st Ave, and Main St. Serving a variety of sushi and Thai dishes including fried rice and PadThai noodles. III makes it Currie dishes fresh every day and features fish like like bluefin tuna shipped overnight from places Seattle, Washington, and Japan. Sushi is available from nigiri sushi to ikura(salmon roe) and mackerel, & braised eel. Opening at 11;00 III serves lunch every day.

Bolay opens in Butler Plaza

'So Fresh an So Bold' is the Bolay focus at their new restaurant in Butler Plaza, 2905 SW 42nd St Suite 70. Serving lunch on their custom designed 'bowls' Bolay has broken lunch into a five step process including base ingredients, proteins, and veggies in what they call Add-Ons. The Bolay lunch line process results in a Small Bol Lunch, $ 7.99, or a Large Bol Lunch, $10.99. With a focus on healthy entrees like Miso glazed tofu, and Spicy Thai Shrimp, and forbidden black rice Boly brags on 100 per cent GLUTEN free. FOLLOW THIS LINK for a Gainesville Lunch Out Blog Bolay review.

grub Burger & Bar opens on Archer Rd.

June 22, 2018:grub Burger & Bar has opened for business in Archer Road's Butler Plaza in the redesigned Butler Town Center. Offering a 13 different hamburgers including some with clever names and with unique toppings like macaroni and cheese, and its homemade Dr. Pepper barbecue sauce. Burgers are served on made-from-scratch buns. The spacious restaurant with a full bar and patio seating also serves salads and bowls with a proteins like wild Alaskan salmon, chicken breast and pesto-seasoned turkey. Chicken is featured on the menu with chicken sandwiches and chicken Tenders. Grub Burger & Bar prides itself on hand spun milkshakes in six varieties, and 4 crafted milk shakes including the Worms & Dirt, and ET milk shakes.

New Cuban cafe on NW 23rd Ave.

June 15, 2018: Sneaking in from around the corner La Cocina De Abuela has been open at 125 NW 23rd Avenue for 3 months. Returning the building to a Cuban buffet will bring back memories from years ago when two Latin American restaurants back-ti-back were open this location. Abuela's offers a complete buffet line of latin Amerian delicacies including rice, black beans, plantains, chicken Fricasse,lentils beans, pot roast,Yucca Fries with garlic sauce and many more lunch time entrees plus a daily lunch special. This Cuban restaurant opens daily at 11:00 - 7:30 pm.

June 8, 2018: According to the website everything goes at the Miami Grill that just opened in The Standard on the corner of University Avenue and 13th St. The website also says "Miami Subs is now Miami Grill. From salads and wings, to cheese steaks and grilled mahi mahi, if it's on your mind it's on our menu." A quick look at the menu tells you they are not kidding with a menu that starts with Limited Time Only Specials, Cheese Steaks, Greek Gyros, Burgers, Wings, Subs, chicken, salads, seafood, Hot Dogs, and kids meals. Thpse are just the sub titles with at least six or seven entrees for each sub title. The Miami Grill delivers, and is open everyday from 10:00 - 10:00.

1,000 Degrees Pizza opens in Butler Plaza

May 14, 2018: 1000 Degrees Pizza, Salad, & Wings has opened in Butler Plaza at 4062 Plaza Blvd suite 20. Open seven days a week, The fast fired lunch line pizza option touts 12 classic pizzas you may customize your lunch time pizzas to your own satisfaction. You may also create you own pizza as you travel their fast causal lunch line of pizza choices including eight kinds of sauces, seven varieties of cheese, and seven meat and 18 veggie toppings. After you have created your pizza it is fast fired and ready to eat in just about 2 minutes.

Caribbean Spice re-opens on NW 23rd Ave.

May 14, 2018: The Caribbean Spice cafe has opened next to Hungry Howies just off of NW 13th St. Jamaican cuisine cuisine lovers are happy to know the CS still serves lunch with positive vibes. Closed only a few months after being dislocated from their old, familiar, W. University Ave. location Caribbesn Spica is back in business with their menu that includes Daily Specials of jerk Chicken, Ox Tails, and curried chicken and goat and many more Island delicacies. The CS is open Mon- Sat. from 11-7:00 pm.FOLLOW THIS LINK for menu, more information.

Copper Monkey re-opens in Creekside Mall

May 1, 2018: An old familiar lunch stop has reared its popular head in the Creekside Mall with the Copper Monkey Sports Bar & Restaurant opening in the former Mancini Italian restaurant Location. After 37 years in Midtown CM owners Rob and Ashlee Zeller closed the Midtown location citing the constant, ongoing construction around NW 17th Ave. Calling the SW 2nd location a sports bar, and American restaurant you will find a lot of the Cooper Monkey favorites including the world famous Copper Monkey Wings, chicken sandwiches, and one of the best hamburgers on Gainesville.

The Grand Cafe opens Downtown

May 1, 2018:The Grand Café has opened downtown just off the corner of University Avenue, and Main St. next to the Dowtown Barber Shop. Rr-elocating from New York the father and son Fiorillo team has created a New York style lunch stop that starts the day with 5:00 am breakfast specials including sandwiches, wraps, pancakes, waffles, and breakfast platters. The lunch menu includes burgers, salads, and wraps and five specialty burgers including the Rodeo Burger with bacon, onion rings, and BBQ sauce. The Grand Café has Senior Citizen Discounts, free WIFI and fresh brewed coffee.

Hurricane BTW opens in Burrito Bros location

February 19, 2018 – The name of the new lunch stop in the old Burrito Brothers location pretty says it all GLOBers S. Florida's Hurricane Burgers Tacos Wings opened last week amid a flurry of curious, hungry customers wanting to know more about the Guacamole Burger, Korean BBQ Beef tacos, and Coco Chicken Wings. "BTW is big in Palm Beach," said BTW owner Jack Gandolfo. "My wife and I just bought property outside of Ocala and this is our new home," He added. With 10 chicken wing sauces, and seven taco choices you might think hamburgers take a back seat until you talk to Jack G. "I know there are a lot of good burgers in Gainesville," Gandolfo said. "I want to hear what you think of our premium double cheese burger with bacon, and Guacamole," the Hurricane BTW owner said with a knowing look.

Fehrenbacher's Artisan Sausages open downtown

January 30, 2018: Gainesville now has a new sausage maker and lunch stop downtown. Adam, and Tatania Fehrenbacher have opened Fehrenbacher's Artisan Sausagesat 411 SW 4th Ave. Adam has over 20 years cooking experience with a bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University. His wife, Tatania, is a UF graduate with 10 plus years of Hospitality Management with the Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Islamorada Fish Company and Bass Pro Shops.

"We are excited about serving lunch here at the Butcher shop," Adam said. "With several stools at our indoor counter, and tables out back on our new patio we look forward to bringing special, homemade style, artisan sausages to our Gainesville Customers," the butcher added. Open Monday-Friday 10-6:00, and Saturday's 3-10:00. Customers can check out the latest menu on the sausage shop's FaceBook page, Instagram page. "We post our menu every morning on the socila media regarding what the shop is featuring for lunch,' Adam said,

Golf course cafe serving New Orleans seafood

January 30, 2018: The lunch stop at NW Gainesville's Meadowbrook Golf Course has opened the Nola Cajun Po'Boys & Seafood at MeadowbrookLocated at 3200 NW 98th St. NOLA hours are Monday - Saturday 11am - 8pm and Sunday Brunch will be available 11am - 5pm. New Orleans style seafood has been added to a menu featuring hamburgers and chicken wings. NOLA Happy Hour Specials are daily from 4 to 7pm with a wide selections of quality beers from our full service bar.

Mancini's now open for lunch

Mancini's Tuscan Grille, January 30, 2018: located in the Creekside Mall according to the website, " The MTG is classic steakhouse with Italian flair open every day for lunch. The lunch menu includes appetizers, salads, soups and sandwiches including the Meatball Pomodoro of house-made lean beef and veal meatball simmered in our house-made marinara sauce and served in a bowl of spaghetti. FOLLOW THIS LINK for a complete Mancini's Tuscan Grille menu.

Mediterrean cafe opens in Butler Plaza

Taziki's Mediterranean Café, January 30, 2018: has opened in Butler Plaza at 2905 SW 42nd St. Taziki's embraces the "Mediterranean Lifestyle" which emphasizes: Eating primarily plant-based. Replacing butter with healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oi. Using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods. Limiting red meat to no more than a few times a month. Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week, Taziki's boasts being a fresh concept restaurant with. "NO Freezers, NO Fryers, and NO Microwaves!" FOLLOW THIS LINK for ore information.

Kabab House relocates to NW 13th St.

January 30, 2018:, The Kabob House has moved around the corner to 604 NW 13th St. Serving Biryani, Tandoor, Kababs, wraps, and curries this long time Gainesville lunch stop used to be located across from the bank on University Avenue. The Kabob Hopuse menu include chicken, goat, ham, and veggie entrees. The KH owners proudly proclaim, "Our Naan is handmade fresh daily and cooked in our tandoor clay oven, while serving Halal حلالا). meat."

OGGI Italiana opens for Sunday lunch

January 30, 2018: OGGI Italian on 3117 SW 34th St. Opens for lunch on Saturday and Sunday this Tampa based restaurant takes a sustainable approach to their complete Italian menu. According to OGGI website: "All of OGGI roasted chickens are free range, naturally raised without antibiotics or hormones. OGGIs chickens are marinated fresh daily for the freshest and best flavors. OGGI mozzarella is made daily, in house, free of preservatives, without GMOs, by our dedicated staff. OGGI prides itself on supporting local farmers, buying only the highest quality of ingredients for our guest

Related Links:

Louis' Lunch at Southeast Fifth Avenue and Second Street, which is also open today, serves the last of its hamburgers and shakes from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Owner Tom Pennisi, 75, cited slow business and his age for his decision to close the diner and sell the property.

His father, Louis Pennisi, opened the business in 1928.

Hey Jules I want to start running the feature below every day.

I would like to include CHOW NOW with a new location but I would need your location by 8:30 in the morning . . .?